Last Monday, I went up to Cornell Cinema with GRF Esmeralda to see the rockumentary Riot Acts: Flaunting Gender Deviance in Music Performance. It was just the two of us among several other Cornellians and native Ithacans, but it was definitely an experience not to be missed. I’ve been considering a minor in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies for a long time, and I’m convinced that this movie had me realize why I’d fallen in love with studying gender: your gender is what you make of it.

Throughout the film, we were introduced to a variety of music groups from all over the nation, some of my favorites including Systyr Act, Trannysaurus Sex, Coyote Grace, and Novice Theory. Not only did I think they were awesome because of their names, but because each group throughout the film had a sound and style that was uniquely their own. Many of them range from pure rock and roll punk, performing in nothing but nipple tassles and fishnet stockings, to country and folk music, playing with a guitar and violin. My personal favorite however has to be Syster Act, who dresses on stage as nuns through a series of comedic acts. Each group has been unapologetic in their work, though skeptical about how their audience would receive them.

Each group has been unapologetic in their work, though skeptical about how their audience would receive them. Most of the music groups in this movie had at least one transgender individual. Some members felt that they would get mixed reception from the audience regarding the gender of the performers, and that they wouldn’t have known what they got themselves into by watching the performance.

Another struggle I thought was interesting about performing as a transgender person was the inevitable voice change through transition, especially for female to male transgender individuals. Katastrophe, a rapper, and Novice Theory both shared their experiences through the transition process, being afraid that their voices would change so drastically deeper to where it would completely change their musical style. Novice Theory talked about how he showed a clip to friends beforehand of his voice before he transitioned, where he had a much larger vocal range. He was also afraid that people would think that he sounded better as a musician before he transitioned. Even the director Madsen Minax discussed in person after the film about how his voice changed, minus a few octaves. I thought this was interesting because as a cis female, this is something I don’t think about on the daily — my voice is just how it is. And to see these musicians adapt to a change they felt was necessary to their identity is in some ways commendable.

Overall, I loved the film. It’s lovely to see the transgender community portrayed in a positive light outside of the media and struggle that has been known to trans people throughout decades. Though this movie was filmed throughout 2006-2009, I wish each group luck in their endeavors today and I will definitely be giving each one a listen.